HawaiianEntomologicalSociety · 2010-05-26 · PROCEEDINGS OF THE HawaiianEntomologicalSociety Vol. VIII, No. 3 Forthe: Ykar 1933 July, 1934 JANUARY5, 1933 The 324th regular meeting

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Hawaiian Entomological Society

Vol. VIII, No. 3 For the: Ykar 1933 July, 1934

JANUARY 5, 1933

The 324th regular meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological

Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., January 5,

1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Adamson, Chapman, Chock, Ehr-

horn, Fullaway, Hadden, Illingworth, Keck, Mason, Mitchell,

Pemberton, Phillips, Schmidt, Smith, Rosa, Swezey, Van Zwalu-

wenburg and Weinrich.

Visitor: H. Darwin Kirschman.

In the absence of the Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. F. X. Williams,

Mr. Swezey served as Acting-Secretary as per arrangement by

Dr. Williams before leaving on a California trip. Minutes of

previous meeting were read and approved, with corrections.

Mr. Swezey, as auditing committee, reported that the Treas

urer's accounts had been examined and found correct.

The Acting-Secretary reported that the Executive Committee

had passed favorably on the bill of $1,060.39 from the Honolulu

Star-Bulletin for printing Vol. VIII, No. 1 of the "Proceedings"

and had instructed the Acting-Secretary to pay $300.00 on it from

the Society's funds, then hand to the Secretary of the Hawaiian

Sugar Planters' Association for payment of the balance.

The Acting-Secretary reported that this had been done and

that he had been informed that the bill had been paid.

On motion a vote of thanks and appreciation was extended to

the Trustees of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association for this

generous assistance in printing the "Proceedings."

Dr. Chapman presented a letter from an official of the Century

of Progress Exposition in Chicago, 1933, with suggestions for an

exhibit from Hawaii showing the work and results of biological

360

control of insect pests here. After discussion, on motion, the

following committee was appointed by the President to look into

the matter: Dr. Chapman, Messrs. Fullaway, Mason and Swezey.

papers

"Fire ants in dry areas", by J. S. Phillips.

NOTES AND EXHIBITIONS

Lobodiplosis pseudococci Felt.—Mr. Schmidt reported that Dr.

Felt had described under this name the cecidomyid midge intro

duced by Mr. Fullaway in 1930 as an enemy of the pineapple

mealybug. It is now known to be well established in some of the

pineapple fields.

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki.—Mr. Ehrhorn exhibited an

aerial nest of Coptotermes formosanus which was built at the edge

of a water tank in the attic of a dwelling in Manoa Valley. The

nest was hanging over the edge of the tank and at times would

be covered with water when tank was full. This nest really acted

as an auxiliary nest for the nest which was in the ground under

the house. Runways were found on the stone foundation wall

for 10 feet and on a vent pipe leading into the attic and along

roof timbers to the water tank. The cover of the tank was badly

destroyed by the termites.

A case of a colony of the same termite on a coal barge was

cited. Mr. Fullaway suggested the possibility that this termite

might be carried to Samoa by U.S. Naval ships which are stationed

here for a time, when a nest might become established on them

before going to Pagopago to be stationed for a time. Consider

able discussion followed on nesting habits of this termite.

Dr. Chapman read from correspondence regarding a request

for living termite material to be sent from here to Boston to be

used in some research work by a scientist working on termites.

The sentiment in the discussion which followed was that it was

not to be recommended.

Hunterellus hookeri Howard.—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg re

ported breeding this encyrtid in December from nymphs of the

dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latr., collected from a dog

raised in Honolulu. Originally described from Texas, bred from

361

R. texanus Banks (a synonym of sanguineus), it has since been

reported from California, Mexico, Portuguese East Africa and

southern India. In California an additional host is Dermacentor

parumapterus Neumann var. marginatus Banks, a tick associated

with jack rabbits and perhaps with dogs. Parasitized Rhipicephalus

nymps eventually become swollen and discolored; the adult para

sites, several per host, issue through a round opening made at

the rear of the dead host. There is considerable variation in the

size of the adult parasites, depending apparently upon the number

of individuals to issue from a single host. Hunterellus adults were

seen on a tick-infested dog both by day and by night, and ex

hibited no fear, running in and out of the fur in spite of close

examination by the observer. An account by H. P. Wood of the

life history of H. hookeri appears in the Journal of Economic

Entomology, Vol. 4, pp. 425-431, 5 figs., 1911.

Contarinia maculipennis Felt.—Mr. Fullaway reported breed

ing the hibiscus bud midge from buds of pikaki, Jasminum sambac.

Mr. Illingworth reported having had hibiscus buds from Hawaii

(handed him by Harry N. Denison) with midge maggots, about

1928, but no adults were reared. That would be somewhat prior

to its appearance on Oahu, where it was first noted in November,

1931.

Native Hawaiian rat.—Dr. Illingworth stated that Dr. Eskey

reports finding the native rat quite prevalent on Maui, sometimes

as many as 2,000 per month being secured by the trappers. He

has found a new species of flea which has been named Xenopsylla

hazvaiiensis by Dr. Karl Jordan.*

Mr. Adamson mentioned that there was a native rat in the

Marquesas, occurring in noninhabited islands, but has been driven

out by the introduced rat in the inhabited islands.

Scelio pembertoni Timb.—Mr. Pemberton reported the recovery

of this introduced grasshopper parasite from Hilo Sugar Com

pany, Hawaii.

Bumerus sp.—Mr. Swezey exhibited a species of syrphid fly,

new to the Territory and evidently of the genus Eumerus. It was

taken at one of the entomological laboratory windows of the

* Novitates Zoologicae, XXXVIII, p. 264, 1932.

362

Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., Honolulu, on December 9, 1932,

by Dr. F. X. Williams.

Galleria mellonella (Linn.).—Mr. Swezey mentioned Dr. Wil

liams having observed a specimen of this bee moth in a downtown

house in Honolulu, December 9, 1932.

Cyllene crinicornis (Chevr.).—Mr. Swezey reported this longi-

corn beetle working in Acacia confusa at Kalauao, Oahu, Novem

ber 16, 1932. The young A., confusa trees were in an unhealthy

or dying condition due to long drought and poor soil. One beetle

was collected on bark, and a good many branches found to contain

nearly full-grown larvae. Some branches were cut and taken to

the laboratory for rearing. Beetles issued at intervals from Decem

ber 6 to January 4. One beetle also reared from a branch of

Haematoxylon tree, and branches of Acacia arabica were found

containing larvae. In all cases the infested branches of the various

trees were in an unhealthy condition, and apparently the infesta

tion by beetle larvae was secondary, the same as when algaroba

trees or wood is attacked by them. The full-grown larva bored a

hole through the bark for exit hole, then retreated for 1 to 2 inches

into the burrow and plugged up the latter with chips and wood

fibers about J/2 -inch from the exit hole, thus a pupal cell is formed

in which the larva transforms to pupa, then to adult beetle.

Three adults of the monkey-pod borer Xystrocera globosa

(Oliv.) were collected on the bark of the Acacia confusa trees,

and it was thought that they also were probably infesting the trees,

but none reared from the infested branches brought in.

Mesolelaps cyaneiventris Ashm.—A specimen of this miscogas-

terid was exhibited by Mr. Swezey. He had collected it November

6, 1932, in beating on Coprosma on Puu Kaua, Waianae Moun

tains, Oahu. This species was collected by Dr. Perkins at Olaa,

Kilauea, and Kona, Hawaii, and has not been recorded since.

Agromyza virens Loew.—Mr. Swezey reported this Agromyza

as having bred from a small Wilkesia plant which he had brought

down from Kokee, Kauai, in July, 1932. The maggots had bored

in the tender stem and killed the plant.

Marquesan Orthoptera.—Mr. Adamson, commenting on He-

bard's paper on Orthoptera in Marquesas called to attention the

363

great dissimilarity of the fauna as compared with Hawaii. Sub

families with endemic species are different in each group of

islands.

FEBRUARY 2, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., February

2, 1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Carter, Chapman, Ehrhorn,

Fullaway, Hadden, Illingworth, Keck, Marlowe, Mason, McBride,

Mitchell, Pemberton, Rosa, Schmidt, Smith, Swezey, and Van

Zwaluwenburg.

As Dr. Williams, the Secretary, was still away on a vacation

trip to California, Mr. Swezey continued as Acting-Secretary.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

Dr. Chapman reported progress of the committee on the exhi

bition of biological control of insects for the Chicago Century of

Progress Exhibition.

Mr. Pemberton read an invitation for a representative of the

Society to attend the Centenary Anniversary in May of the Ento

mological Society of London. Mr. Bryan suggested that Dr. Per

kins be asked to represent the Society, if possible for him to

attend.

The Acting-Secretary passed around a photograph of the late

Dr. Kieffer which had been received. He also read a communica

tion from Mr. Sternitzky of San Francisco, announcing collecting

trips to Mexico in 1933, and offering to make specific collections

on order.

Dr. Carter reported on his attendance at the 5th International

Entomological Congress in Paris, July, 1932. He gave incidents of

the meeting and of those attending, and reviewed a number of the

important papers. He specially dwelt on papers dealing with virus

transmission and symbionts. Went to Dr. Buchner's laboratory

at Breslau, where a great deal of work is being done with sym

bionts. Visited some other institutions working on virus, etc. Also

told of work being done at Rothamstead Experiment Station in

England. Found a good system of Extension Agents in vogue for6

reaching the farming communities. On return trip, spent 19 days

364

in Jamaica and three months in Guatemala. Will report on this at

next meeting, with pictures which are not yet ready for exhibition.

papers

"The Immunity of Pseudococcus brevipes (Ckll.) to Para

sitism by Coccophagus gurneyi Compere," by Carl T. Schmidt.

NOT£S AND EXHIBITIONS

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki.—Mr. Ehrhorn exhibited

pieces of redwood (from a 30-year-old building) which had been

somewhat eaten by Coptotermes formosanus and Cryptotermes

piceatus. Heretofore redwood has been said to be free from ter

mite attack.

Followed by considerable discussion on termite resistant woods,

poisoned canec, etc.

*Rhyncogonus n. sp.—A fine large specimen of this weevil was

exhibited by Mr. Swezey. It was captured September 25, 1932, by

Mr. Welch of the Bishop Museum while collecting shells in the

upper part of Lualualei Valley in the Waianae Mts., Oahu. The

exact locality was at 1600 feet elevation in Halona Valley (a

branch of Lualualei) and is the fourth gulch southwest of Pohakea

Pass. The beetle was on an unidentified shrub or small tree. The

beetle is black, with a longitudinal stripe of white scales on each

elytron and some other white patches, and is quite distinct from

any known species so far collected. It is larger than most species.

Campodea sp.—Mr. Swezey exhibited a specimen of this primi

tive thysanuran which he captured January 29, 1933, in a rotten

koa log on Kahauiki Ridge about 1000 feet elevation. Mention is

made in the "Fauna Hawaiiensis" of the occurrence of this insect

in Hawaii, but no record of the species is made. It is a delicate

insect, and seldom collected.

Crossotarsus externedentatus Fairm.—Specimens of this scoly-

tid were exhibited by Mr. Swezey, who had collected them from

the trunk of a Cassia nodosa tree at Miss Yoder's on Makiki

'Street, Honolulu, February 1, 1933. Scores of the beetles were

* Rhyncogonus zvelchii Perkins. Prpc. Haw. Ent. Soc, VIII, No. 2, p. 269, 1933.

365

boring into the bark on the trunk and branches of this tree, which

appeared to be in a healthy condition. The beetles usually attack

unhealthy or dying trees, or dying branches. It has been specially

recorded on avocado, and also previously recorded on kukui, Elae-

ocarpus, Maba, Eugenia, Syzygium, Eucalyptus and Albizzia.

Heteropoda regia (Fabr.).—Dr. Chapman inquired as to the

occurrence of tarantula spiders in Hawaii, as there was a court

case against a pineapple canning company on account of a "taran

tula" being found in a can of pineapples. A member replied that

tarantulas do not occur in Hawaii, and that the "tarantula" found

in a can of pineapples must have been the common large house

spider {Heteropoda regia), which is not related to tarantula.

Leucaspis cockerelli Green.—Mr. Pemberton reported this scale

insect having been found on orchids in Hilo, Hawaii, January,

1933, by L. W. Bryan, and that Dr. Lyon has found it on orchids

in Honolulu also. This pest has not been recorded previously in

Hawaii. The material was determined by Mr. Whitney, who states

that the species has been recorded on Pritchardia and Dracaena in

Ceylon.

Habrolepis sp.—A specimen was exhibited by Mr. Fullaway

which runs to this genus, which has not previously been recorded

in Hawaii. The specimen was collected on weeds at Pearl City by

Mr, Chock.

Thripoctenus sp.—Mr. Fullaway exhibited a slide mount of

this thrips parasite which he had iound dead on a carnation leaf,

January, 1933.

'MARCH 2, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., March 2,

1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Ehrhorn, Fullaway, Had-

den, Illingworth, Ito, Keck, Krauss, Marlowe, Mason, McBride,

Mitchell, Pemberton, Rosa, Schmidt, Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg,

and Williams.

Visitors: C. J. Joubert, H. Darwin Kirschman.

366

President Pemberton called the meeting to order. The minutes

of the previous meeting were read and approved with corrections.

Messrs. Fullaway, Swezey, and Pemberton discussed arrange

ments for getting up and financing exhibits on biological control

of insects for the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition.

President Pemberton stated that he had written to the Secre

tary of the Entomological Society of London recommending that

Dr. R. C. L. Perkins represent the Hawaiian Entomological

Society at the Centenary of the Entomological Society of London.

He also wrote to Dr. Perkins in this regard.

President Pemberton then introduced Mr. C. J. Joubert, Lec

turer-Research Officer, College of Agriculture, Stellenbosch-Elsen-

burg, South Africa, who is spending a short time in Hawaii and

is interested in the biological control of insects in these Islands.

Mr. Joubert touched briefly on several of the more important

entomological problems in South Africa. He stated that fruit-fly

control in South Africa consisted chiefly of syringing (not spray

ing) poison bait on trees, or in districts of summer rains, of using

a trap or pot bait, a good mixture for this second method consist

ing of pollard, treacle, borax and sodium arsenate. The codlin

moth is fought by means of arsenical spray and flourine com

pounds—acid oil emulsions were added to remove arsenic from the

fruits subsequently. The codlin moth also bad on apricots, peaches,

and plums, particularly where these are in or near an apple

orchard. Among indigenous pests is the false codlin moth that

attacks citrus, the larva boring into the fruit. Arsenate of lead

spray renders the citrus fruits insipid and so cannot be used here.

Picking and destroying the infested fruit is recommended. Citrus

mealybugs present; Psendococcus nauhanae and maritiinus are bad

on pears, the sooty fungus following their attack lowers the value

of the fruit and is hard to remove. P. maritimus is a major peston export grapes.

There is much for the entomologist to do in Mr. Joubert's dis

trict as the land area is large and the scientific staff small.

Mr. Bryan introduced Mr. H. Darwin Kirschman, local repre

sentative of Ward's Natural Science Establishment of Rochester,

New York, and E. H. Sargent and Company of Chicago, on chem

ical supplies. Mr. Kirschman responded to the introduction with

a few words.

367

PAPERS

Mr. F. C. Hadden presented a paper entitled: "Cicindelidae

in the Collection of the Experiment Station of the Hawaiian

Sugar Planters' Association, and in the collection of Fred C.

Hadden." As a matter of information Mr. Swezey stated that no

Cicindela beetles are found in the Hawaiian Islands.


Rhyncogonus saltus Perkins.—Living specimens of this beetle

were exhibited by Mr. Swezey which were collected by him on a

native species of Bidens on Puu Hapapa, Waianae Mts., Feb. 5,

1933, at an elevation of 2500 feet. It is about a quarter of a mile

from where the original colony was discovered near Kolekole Pass,

May 9, 1920. The present colony is near the crest of the main

ridge and limited to about a hundred feet along the trail. Much

sweeping was done on the Bidens, which occurred abundantly

along the trail below and also beyond, but no beetles were captured

except in the small area.

Anthonomus eugenii Cano.—Mr. Fullaway reported the fol

lowing on the pepper weevil: Originally in Mexico, now in New

Mexico, Arizona and So. California. Infests peppers, also can

survive in Solanums (Cestrum). Discovered in Honolulu on Feb.

24, 1933, in a Cummings School garden, Kaimuki. Found since in

many places: Honolulu and at Waipahu and Pearl City. Infests

bell peppers and chili peppers. Eggs said to be laid in blossoms;

larva mostly in small or not fully formed fruits, causes dropping;

often several in a fruit; pupates in a roughly formed cell of frass

inside fruit. The adult can fly.

Cremastus hymeniae Vier.—A specimen was exhibited by Mr.

Swezey which had freshly issued from cocoon. Its host was a small

caterpillar found on leaf of native violet on Puu Kanehoa, Wai

anae Mts., Feb. 5, 1933. The host* will not be known until the

moth issues from chrysalis formed by another caterpillar from the

same plant. A third caterpillar had died when about half grown

* Phlyctaenia violae Swezey. Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc, VIII, No. 2, p. 299, 1933.

368

and was found to contain a parasite larva which was probably

Cremastus.

Rhyncogonus simplex Perkins.—A living beetle was exhibited

by Mr. Swezey, collected by him, Feb. 22, 1933, under dried cow

dung at the same place on Koko Head where discovered by Mr.

Hadden, Jan. 11, 1928, and collected by Mr. Swezey, Nov. 27,

1930. This indicates that the isolated colony there is keeping up its

existence.

Symphostethus pacificus Fleutiaux.—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg

exhibited a metatype specimen (from the Giflard collection) of

this elaterid beetle from Guadalcanal Solomon Islands, which had

been named by Dr. Edmond Fleutiaux of Nogent-sur-Marne,

France. When Dr. Fleutiaux had the specimen he thought it might

be a variety of S. collaris Schwartz, described from New Guinea.

More recently he writes that after comparison with Schwarz's type

he has named the species S. pacificus, the type being a specimen in

the Fleutiaux collection, from Bougainville, Solomon Islands. The

description appears in this issue of the Proceedings, p. 473.

Cotype of Neodiploconus nigripes Fleutiaux.—Through the

courtesy of Mr. Hadden, a cotype of this Philippine elaterid spe

cies, described in the Philippine Journal of Science, Vol. 49 (4),

p. 568, Dec, 1932, has been deposited in the type collection of theHawaiian Entomological Society.

Tenodera angustipennis Sauss.—Dr. Williams referred to two

articles in the Entomological News for January, 1933, on two

Oriental Mantids, Tenodera angustipennis and T. sinensis. Judg

ing from the form of the egg-masses of these two insects, it is

evident that our large common mantid in Hawaii is not T. sinensis,

as has been so long considered, but T. angustipennis, its closerelative.

Dr. Williams also showed an excellently written handbook

entitled "What Butterfly is That" or a Guide to the Butterflies of

Australia, G. A. Waterhouse. The plates, mostly in color, by

N. W. Cayley, are very excellent. It was sent to the Hawaiian

Entomological Society for review, by the publishers, Angus and

Robertson of Sydney, Australia.

369

APRIL 6, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., April 6,

1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Adamson, Bryan, Ehrhorn, Fulla-

way, Hadden, Illingworth, Keck, Krauss, Mason, Marlowe, Mc-

Bride, Mitchell, Mumford, Pemberton, Riley, Rosa, Solander,

Schmidt, Smith, Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg, Weinrich, Wilder,

Williams and Miss Suehiro.

Visitor: Mr. H. D. Kirschman.


of the preceding meeting were read and approved with corrections.

Committee on Exhibits for the Chicago Century of Progress

Exposition: Mr. Swezey reported that a number of cases of

insects showing biological control were being prepared by Mr.

Fullaway and himself, and according to instructions were to be

sent C.O.D.

Miss Amy Suehiro was elected to membership.

Mr. Mumford mentioned that Prof. Esaki of Japan is making

a card index of entomologists who collected and studied in Japan.

He gave a questionnaire to the Society for the entomologists con

cerned to fill out. On behalf of Dr. Hachiro Yuasa, Kyoto Im

perial University, Mr. Mumford donated the book Iconographia

Insectorum Japonicorum to the Hawaiian Entomological Society.

The President then suggested that the Secretary write and thank

Dr. Yuasa for his fine gift.

Dr. Gerrit P. Wilder, being called upon, gave an interesting

talk on his work in the Tuamotu Archipelago and chiefly in Maka-

tea Island, 126 miles from Tahiti. The island is valuable for the

phosphate which is exported. The vegetation is scant there. He

exhibited boxes of insects mounted and labeled by Miss Suehiro.

papers

Mr. Swezey read a paper entitled: "The Distribution of the

genus Rhyncogonus on Oahu (Col.-Curculionidae)."

Mr. Bryan read a review of an Australian Butterfly, book by

Dr. Waterhouse.

370


Toxomerus marginatus (Say).—A specimen of this syrphid

fly was exhibited by Mr. Swezey. Several specimens had been

handed him by Mr. K. O. Moe. They were collected March 20,

1933, in Kalihi, Oahu, at flowers. It is the first record of this new

immigrant fly on Oahu. It had been taken first by Mr. Swezey at

Kokee, Kauai, in June, 1932.

Orothreptes callithrix Perkins.—Mr. Swezey exhibited a speci

men of this cossonid weevil collected by him from Pisonia sand-

wicensis, in Halona Valley, Waianae Mts., March 12, 1933. It is

a very rare beetle, first collected by Dr. Perkins in Kona, Hawaii

(a single specimen) and later on Mt. Tantalus, Oahu, by Dr. Per

kins and Mr. Giffard.

New psyllid.—-Mr. Swezey exhibited specimens and photo

graphs of a psyllid reared from galls on under side of leaves of

Pisonia sandwicensis, collected in Halona Valley, Waianae Mts.,

March 12, 1933. From a bunch of leaves brought in, 89 of the

psyllids had issued. As many as 5 nymphs were found in a single

Litomastix floridana (Ashm.).—Mr. Swezey reported captur

ing two specimens of this Plusia parasite on a taro leaf in Halona

Valley, Waianae Mts., March 12, 1933. He exhibited, also, a

Plusia chalcites caterpillar affected by this parasite, which was col

lected by Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg on weeds in Field 42, Oahu

Sugar Company, Ltd. (near Kipapa Gulch), April 3, 1933. The

Halona record is the farthest on Oahu from Honolulu that the

parasite has been taken. This indicates the parasite to be widely

spread already.

Atractomorpha ambigua Bolivar.—Mr. Pemberton reported

that two specimens of this grasshopper were received from Mr.

W. L. S. Williams, Manager, Waiakea Mill Company, on March

17, 1933. This is the first record of its occurrence on the Island

of Hawaii.

Promylaea pyropa Meyrick.—Dr. Williams exhibited a speci

men of this rare pyrausted moth which he had taken feeding at the

371

flowers of Hoya (Asclepiadaceae) at Woodlawn, Honolulu, in the

late afternoon of March 14, 1933.

Many years ago Mr. O. H. Swezey reared this insect from

caterpillars that mined the leaves of Peperomia pachyphylla (Proc.

Haw. Ent. Soc, II, p. 221, 1913).

Mr. Keck spoke of the amicable relations between two queen

bees in one of his hives and asked if any of the entomologists had

noticed a similar condition. The queens had been together for 3

weeks.

Coptotermes fortnosanus Shiraki.—Mr. Ehrhorn spoke of a

Nothopanax hedge being attacked by this termite.

Lagocheirus obsoletus Thorns.—Mr. Swezey mentioned the

numerous very large, though usual, emergence holes made in dead

Kukui (Aleurites) trees in Kamokuiki Valley in the Waianae

Mts., Oahu, by Lagocheirus grubs, which he had recently observed.

MAY 4, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., on May 4,

1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Adamson, Bryan, Ehrhorn, Fulla-

way, Illingworth, Keck, Krauss, Marlowe, Mason, McBride, Pem-

berton, Rosa, Schmidt, Smith, Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg,

Wilder, Williams, and Miss Suehiro.


of the preceding meeting were read and approved with corrections.

Committee on Exhibits for the Chicago Century of Progress

Exposition: Mr. Swezey reported that the cases of insects illus

trating biological control had been sent off in late April.

A communication was read from Prof. Esaki of the Kyushu

Imperial University, Fukuoka, Japan, in which he requested data

from entomologists who had collected or studied in Japan.

Mr. E. P. Mumford, in a communication, .expressed his regret

at his inability to attend, as often as he wished, the meetings of the

Hawaiian Entomological Society.

Through a communication from Mr. J. K. Butler to Mr. H. P.

Agee, Director of the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., a "wire"

372

was received from Dr. R. C. L. Perkins saying he would be

pleased to act as delegate at the Centenary of the Entomological

Society of London.

The Secretary read a letter of thanks from the Hawaiian Ento

mological Society to Dr. H. Yuasa for the copy of Iconographia

Insectorum Japonicorum.

Mr. O. H. Swezey stated that he had received a communication

from Dr. R. J. Tillyard saying that he would pass through Hono

lulu on May 12.

Mr. Swezey mentioned that Dr. R. C. L. Perkins had sent him

some of his diary notes in the Hawaiian Islands.

PAPERS

Mr. R. H. Van Zwaluwenburg presented a paper from Dr. F.

Silvestri entitled: "Description of a new species of Thysanura

from the Hawaiian Islands."

Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg also presented a paper from Dr. E.

Fleutiaux entitled: "Description d'un Elateride nouveau."

Mr. O. H. Swezey read a paper entitled: "Insects from Ber

muda Grass, Kawela Bay, Oahu, April 23, 1933."


Plusiocampa (Microcmnpa) perkinsi Silvestri.—Mr. Van Zwa

luwenburg made a note concerning this thysanurid, described on

page 519. It is a truly subterranean insect, so far known only

from the island of Oahu. In studies of a field of growing cane it

averaged 21 per surface square foot (to a depth of 9 inches), com

prising over one per cent of all the animal life tabulated. Of the

number found in the upper nine inches, over half were between the

3 and 7 inch levels. In soil in which cane was growing, it was over

20 times more abundant than in fallow cane soil. It is erroneously

referred to in the Handbook of Sugar Cane Insects (p. 350) as

Campodea, and the figure given (Fig. 179) is of a similar but not

congeneric insect.

Scelio pembertoni Timb.—Mr. J. S. Rosa recorded the recov

ery of Scelio pembertoni, parasitic in the egg of the Oxya grass

hopper, from eggs that had been exposed in the field in April,

1933, at Waialua, Oahu.

373

Trialoma rubrofasciata (Lap.).—Mr. D. T. Fullaway exhibited

this reduviid bug, rarely taken here. It bites severely. One was

brought in from Kaimuki by a schoolboy. Mr. Bryan mentioned

that occasionally the bug was brought into the Entomology Labora

tory by University students.

Hydrovatus confertus Sharp.—Dr. Williams exhibited an en

larged photograph of the crop and gizzard of this little water

beetle. Through the wall of the crop could be seen an almost per

fect copepod crustacean which the beetle had swallowed.

Sarcophaga barbata Thorns.—Mr. Swezey recorded having

reared this fly from dog excrement found containing numerous

maggots.

Pterolophia camura Newman.—A specimen of this cerambycid

beetle was exhibited by Mr. Swezey, collected by him April 15, in

house. It is a somewhat recent immigrant, having been first col

lected by Kusche in Honolulu, May 7, 1919; again by Rosa in

Nuuanu Valley, March 18, 1930, and July, 1932; and at Waikiki

by Bianchi, July 10, 1932. The identification has only now been

made by comparison with specimens brought back by Hadden

from the Philippines and determined by Fisher, Washington, D. C.

Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus (Mayr).—Attention was called by

Mr. Swezey to the synonomy of this hyperparasite of aphids given

by Gahan in Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 77, Art. 8, p. 6, 1931. This is

the insect heretofore known in Hawaii as Aphidencyrtus schizo-

neurae (Ashm.).

Melittobia hazvaiiensis Perk.—Mr. Schmidt reported that a new

host record for this parasite was found when a large number of

these parasites were reared from a nest of Polistes sp. from the

Makiki district of Honolulu. This was believed to be a case of

true parasitism since the contents of the cell were examined care

fully on the chance that some other insect may have appropriated

the nest for its own use. No indication was seen that the host was

not Polistes. Both males and females were present. The total

number of parasites in the cell was somewhat over two hundred.

The exact number was not determined because the cell had been

pierced at the time it was found so that some may have escaped.

374

Mr. Pemberton exhibited two Hawaiian-born toads (Bufo

marinus) of good size.

Mr. Pemberton exhibited also some scarabeid beetles and sco-

liid wasps parasitic on scarabeid grubs, sent in by Mr. F. Bianchi

from Guatemala, where Mr. Bianchi is rearing and studying these

insects.

JUNE 1, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., on June 1,

1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Adamson, Carter, Ehrhorn, Illing-

worth, Krauss, Marlowe, Mason, McBride, Mitchell, Pemberton,

Van Zwaluwenburg, and Williams.

Visitor: H. D. Kirschman.


of the preceding meeting were read and approved.

The Secretary read a communication from D. L. Crawford,

President of the University of Hawaii, to Mr. Swezey and accom

panying some notes by T. C. Lawrence, on "The feeding habits

of the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes."

Dr. W. Carter spoke of the difficulty of rearing the Guate

malan drosophilid fly enemy of the pineapple mealybug. He also

referred to the symbiotic organisms in the mycetoms of Pseudo-

coccus brevipes (Ckll.), which subject was discussed at length.

JULY 6, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., July 6,

1933.

Members present: Messrs. Adamson, Bryan, Ehrhorn, Mar

lowe, McBride, Pemberton, Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg, and

Williams.

President Pemberton called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were approved as read.

Upon request, Mr. O. H. Swezey gave an interesting synopsis

375

of the Pacific Science Congress meeting held June 1-14 at Vic

toria, Vancouver, B. C, which he had attended.


A Sniinthurid new to Hawaii.—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg stated

that in a recent letter from Dr. J. W. Folsom, he reports finding,

among some soil collembolans from Honolulu, a few specimens of

a minute Megalothorax, probably minimus Willem.* This genus

is an addition to the local fauna.

^Ponerine ants new to the Hawaiian Islands.—Mr. Van Zwa

luwenburg stated that a recent letter from Dr. W. M. Wheeler

reports the finding of two new species of ants among the soil col

lections made some years ago during a study of the "microgenton"

of local sugar cane fields. They are small, subterranean, eyeless

species belonging to the genus Cryptopone, a genus new to the

Islands, and one which, according to Forel, is characteristic of the

Indo-Malayan region. One of the species came from Honolulu,

while the other was found at three widely separated localities on

Oahu, as well as on central Maui.

Stenotrupis filum Fairm.—Mr. Swezey reported having re

cently received the identification by Dr. Marshall of this small

cossonid beetle. It has been known for some time on Oahu, the

first specimens having been obtained as early as April 23, 1908, at

Waialua Agricultural Co., where they were found on sugar cane

beneath the leafsheath. Similarly, it was collected at Ewa Planta

tion, March 29, 1932. A specimen was obtained, Dec. 17, 1919, on

bark of an algaroba tree at Waipio. The larval habits have not

been discovered yet. Dr. Marshall stated that this beetle was

described from Tahiti. It is the same beetle that was reported on

by Mr. Swezey at the October 6, 1932, meeting as having been

found by Mr. Whitney in quarantine inspection of coconuts from

Samoa, August 11, 1932.

Eumerus sp.—Mr. Pemberton exhibited a new immigrant syr-

phid fly with conspicuous white tarsi on posterior pair of legs.

Taken at H.S.P.A. Experiment Station grounds June 10, 1933.

Apparently new to Hawaii.

* Ann. Soc. Ent. Belgique, 44, p. 7, 1900. # mt Pseudocryptopone swaluwenburgi and P. sweseyi Wheeler, Am. Mus. Novitates,

No. 672, pp. 14 and 16, figs. 5 and 6, 1933.

376

Pteroporus subtruncatus Fairm.—Mr. Pemberton exhibited a

ginger weevil reared from a bulb of lily, Hemerocallis sp., collected

by Dr. H. L. Lyon on June 27, 1933, in grounds of J. W.

Waldron, Nuuanu Valley, Honolulu. Not seen since 1918, when

it was collected from ginger at Sherman residence Nuuanu Valley.

Latrodectes mactans (Fabr.).—Mr. Pemberton reported an

hourglass spider ( 9 ) collected by Mr. D. M. L. Forbes at Kawai-

hae, Hawaii, among rocks on beach June 1, 1933. This is the first

record of its occurrence on the island of Hawaii.

Sceliphron caementarium (Drury).—Mr. Pemberton reported

that this wasp was found storing its cells with mostly hourglass

spiders Latrodectes mactans (Fabr.) at the Dowsett beach resi

dence at Waianae, Oahu, on June 22, 1933. The contents of sev

eral mud nests sent to the Experiment Station consisted of 24

female and 13 male Latrodectes and 2 spiders of another species.

The Enemies of Tanytarsus (Diptera-Chironomidae).—Dr.

Williams read notes as follows: This fragile little green midge, of

which there may be more than one species here, may be commonly

observed as swarms consisting of males, lazily hovering over the

waters of mountain streams. It seems certain that adult dragon-

flies and damselflies feed regularly on these midges. In the water

where the early life of Tanytarsus is passed they are beset with

even more enemies. The eggs are laid in the water while the tube-

building writhing larvae dwell at the bottom of poollets or among

green algae there. A study of this chironomid in certain little

mountain pools back of Honolulu showed that the fresh-water

gobies preyed extensively on the larvae; the nymphs of Odonata,

particularly Agrion, no doubt Nesogonia as well, ate large num

bers, while at the critical time of eclosion of the adult—i.e., when

the Tanytarsus pupa swims, or wriggles to the surface, freely or

through a bed of algae—gangs of Microvelia, the tiny water-strid

ing bug, pounce upon the pupa as it gains the surface, pierce it

with their beaks, and suck the juices; they attack the tender fly in

the act of issuing—a matter of perhaps 30 seconds—and even

capture the fly as it takes wing. Many captives of Tanytarsus by

groups of these foraging bugs were observed, and even small tipu-

lid pupae of semiaquatic habit suffered likewise. In addition, a few

377

larvae of dolichopodid flies, well known to be predacious, were

found in the green algae accumulated on the quiet portion of pools.

Hylemyia cilicrura (Rondani).—A recent report that the cab

bage maggot was present at Waimea, Hawaii, proved, upon inves

tigation of material sent in by Messrs. Pemberton, Whitney, and

Bryan, to be a case of mistaken identity, the fly being the allied

seed-corn maggot. The cabbage maggot, Hyleymia brassicae

(Bouche) is not known to be present in the Hawaiian Islands.

Coptotermes fortnosanus Shiraki.—Mr. Ehrhorn spoke of an

afternoon flight of the ground-inhabiting termite, Coptotermes for-

mosanus, in Honolulu.

AUGUST 3, 1933

The 331st regular meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological

Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., on August

3, 1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Illingworth, Marlowe, Ma

son, McBride, Pemberton, Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg, and Wil

liams.

Visitor: H. Darwin Kirschman.


of the preceding meeting were approved as read.

President Pemberton exhibited and commented on the appro

priately worded and neatly printed address of welcome from the

Society's delegate, Dr. R. C. L. Perkins to the Entomological

Society of London on behalf of its Centenary Celebration.

The Secretary stated that 29 out of a possible 37 reply cards

had been received from Sugar Plantation Managers who desired—

as offered by the Society—a set of its Proceedings.

Mr. E. H. Bryan gave an interesting review of a worth-while

book, Carter's "Gulliver in the Bush." Mr. Carter is a Coleop-

terist of many years7 experience in Australia.

NOTES AND EXHIBITION OF LOCAI, MATERIAL

Diachasma tryoni Silv.—Mr. Swezey reported rearing two of

this parasite from Ceratitis capitata Wied. in peaches collected in

Kukuiala Valley, Waianae Mts.; July 16, 1933.

378

Protura (Myrientomata).—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg exhibited

a slide mount of this rare insect collected from soil from a cane

field near Honolulu in July, a new record for the Hawaiian

Islands. The Protura are minute whitish animals characterized as

follows: entognathous piercing mouthparts, antennae and com

pound eyes wanting, and abdomen 12-segmented with the first

three segments each with a pair of small appendages. They have

the habit of walking with the forelegs extended in front of the

head, probably to function as tactile organs. They are world-wide

in distribution. Their systematic position is largely a matter of

opinion, according to Imms (General Textbook of Entomology,

pp. 210-213, 1925) ; Berlese and Comstock held that they formed

a class of their own (Myrientomata) while Silvestri and Borner

place them among the Insecta. Hawaiian specimens were sent to

Dr. Silvestri, who will report on them later.

Aleurodidae (?) from the soil.—Slides were exhibited of

larvae and a pupa of what appears to be an aleurodid, collected in

a Berlese funnel from soil from a cane field near Honolulu in

July. The material came from a depth of three to six inches below

the surface, and is believed to be truly subterranean, being taken

several yards away from any weeds to which they might have been

attached; had they been dislodged and fallen from cane foliage

directly above the spot where they were taken it is reasonable to

suppose that the species would have been recorded on cane before

now. Mr. Pemberton collected the same insect at Honokaa, Ha

waii, in February, 1928, on decaying cane tissue underground.

An Ichneumonid apparently new to Hawaii.—A male wasp was

exhibited taken on a window pane at the H.S.P.A. Station on July

26, 1933, which has been determined by Dr. Williams as near

Exochus? (subfamily Tryphoninae).

Mesovelia mulsanti White.—Dr. Williams exhibited specimens

of this small predacious bug which frequents the algae mats in a

plantation reservoir at Waipio, Oahu. It seems to be M. mulsanti,

described from the Amazons and appears to be the only American

species. That species inserts its eggs in plant tissues—hence could

be easily transported here. In the laboratory it preyed upon Mer-

ragata hebroides White, a common, much smaller water-running

379

bug here. It is the first record of this insect in the Hawaiian

Islands.

Anagrus sp., damselfly egg-parasite.—Dr. Williams recorded

the hatching of a damselfly (Agrion sp.) from eggs which were

very numerous in leaves of Commelina nudiflora collected by the

stream in Hering Valley. An undetermined species of a new

mymarid (Anagrus sp.) issued from many of the eggs. It is the

same parasite that Mr. Swezey bred from eggs in leaves of Ipo-

nwea bona-nox collected in Haleauau Valley, September 14, 1930.

At that time nothing hatched from the eggs except the parasites,

and the eggs and method of oviposition were unrecognized, so the

host of the parasite was a mystery. These are the first records of

parasitism of damselfly eggs in Hawaii. Probably this Anagrus

should be considered an endemic species.

Tromatobia rufopectus (Cress.).—Mr. Pemberton exhibited an

egg-sac of the spider Argiope avara Thor. which he had found on

sugar cane at Mountain View, Hawaii, July 28, 1933. It had been

parasitized by the ichneumonid Tromatobia rufopectus, a dozen or

more cocoons of this parasite being closely packed in the egg-sac.

The most of these cocoons were in turn parasitized by an ente-

donine later determined as Pleurotropis wilderi (How.). This is

the first record of the latter parasite from the Island of Hawaii

and as a secondary parasite of Tromatobia rufopectus here.

Pig-zvasps established on Kauai.—Mr. Pemberton reported that

Dr. H. L. Lyon had found during the latter part of July, 1933, on

the island of Kauai, fruits of Ficus rubiginosa and Ficus macro-

phylla containing their respective pollinating agaonids: Pleisto-

dontes imperialis Saund. and Pleistodontes froggatti Mayr. They

had reached Kauai from Oahu without assistance.

SEPTEMBER 7, 1933

The 332nd regular meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological

Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., on Septem

ber 7, 1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Ehrhorn, Fullaway, Hadden,

Illingworth, Krauss, Mason, Marlowe, McBride, Pemberton, Rosa,

380

Schmidt, Smith, Solander, Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg, Weinrich,

Williams and Miss Suehiro.



of the previous meeting were read and approved with corrections.

papers

Mr. O. H. Swezey presented a paper by Mr. Dudley Moulton

entitled "New Thysanoptera of the Hawaiian Islands."

Mr. R. H. Van Zwaluwenburg presented two papers by

Dr. E. Fleutiaux entitled "Quatre Elaterides Nouveaux" and

"Elaterides Nouveaux des lies Philippines."

NOTSS AND EXHIBITIONS

Diachus auratus (Fabr.).—Dr. Illingworth reported this spe

cies taken from the foliage of Calliopsis plants growing in his yard

at Kaimuki. This beetle is evidently an accidental introduction .

from the United States. It has been reported from time to time in

our "Proceedings." The earliest capture is a specimen in the collec

tion of the Board of Agriculture taken by Kotinsky, at Waianae

in 1909. (Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc. Ill, 288.)

Haplothrips usitatus (Bagn.).—Dr. Illingworth exhibited dis

eased specimens of Calliopsis taken in his garden at Kaimuki. The

terminal buds were very badly distorted, evidently affected by a

virus disease, the leaves being curled up and greatly stunted. Dr.

Illingworth found this thrips breeding in the diseased buds. There

is a possibility that it is the insect transmitter of the trouble.

Mr. D. T. Fullaway exhibited the collection of Ichneumonidae

taken by the Pacific Entomological Survey.

Omosita discoidea (Fab.).—Mr. Swezey exhibited a specimen

of this nitidulid beetle which he had recently discovered unnamed

in the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A. collection. The labels on the

specimen indicate that it was found by Mr. Timberlake in a greasy

can, at about 6200 feet elevation on the slope of Haleakala, Maui,

July 20, 1919. This was in a gulch near Puu Nianiau, and possibly

was a camp site where Mr. Timberlake and Mr. C. N. Forbes

made one of their camps while on a collecting trip in the summer

381

of 1919. It is a European beetle, which also occurs in the United

States. Its identification was made by comparison with a specimen

in a collection of Coleoptera" made in California, which were deter

mined by Dr. Blaisdell. This is the only record of this beetle in

the Hawaiian Islands.

Tetrastichus sp. near bruchophagi Gahan.—Specimens of this

parasite were exhibited by Mr. Swezey, who had reared them from

fennel seeds in his garden in Manoa Valley, August 15-17, 1933.

Only one of its host, Systole geniculattof Forst, issued from the

fennel seeds, which indicates that the latter was highly parasitized.

It was an isolated fennel plant (no other known anywhere in the

vicinity), and indicates the ability of these insects to find their

hosts.

Bythoscopus robustus (Uhler).—Mr. Swezey reported the re

cent identification, by Mr. E. P. Van Duzee, of this green bytho-

scopid which he had collected from Bermuda grass at Kawela Bay,

Oahu, April 23, 1933. It is the first record of this insect in Ha

waii. The insect occurs all across southern United States from

Florida to California.

Oligomerus obtusus Lee. ( ?)—Mr. Swezey exhibited two spec

imens of what appears to be this anobiid beetle which had matured

August 5 from larvae in oak flooring from the residence of John

Waterhouse, Honolulu, brought in by Mr. Ehrhorn, June 7, 1933.

The floor was considerably damaged by the larvae of this beetle. It

is the first record of its occurrence in Honolulu. This beetle occurs

in Canada and the eastern United States.

New immigrant carabid.—A specimen of what appears to be

a new immigrant carabid beetle was exhibited by Mr. Swezey, who

had caught it on the screen door at his home, the evening of July

9, 1933.

Proterhinus pachyenemis Perkins.—Two male specimens of

this beetle were exhibited by Mr. Swezey, who had collected them

on a native hibiscus tree in the Waianae Mts. on the ridge above

the upper part of Kukuiala Valley, July 16, 1933. This species is

remarkable for its very thick fore and hind femora. This is the

first record of tree from which collected. Dr. Perkins collected a

few in Waianae Mts., but did not record tree from which taken.

382

Chaetogaedia monticola (Bigot).—Mr. Swezey exhibited a

specimen of this tachinid fly which had issued from a noctuid pupa

found by Dr. Williams in soil at about 7000 feet elevation on

Halaekala, Maui, in the vicinty of Puu Nianiau at the end of the

new road, July 26, 1933. The noctuid pupa was different from any

known species, so that in this case the host is unknown. It might

have been Euxoa epicremna (Meyr.) which has been collected pre

viously on the top of Haleakala.

Ophiomyia lantanae (Frog.).—Mr. Swezey reported that he

had recently received for identification some of this agromyzid fly

that had been reared from lantana berries at Bangalore, India.

They were sent him by T. V. Subramaniam, the entomologist

there. This is evidence that the lantana seedfly became establ-

lished there from the material taken from Honolulu by Dr. K.

Kunhi Kannan in 1921. From that lot he had liberated 250 flies

which issued from the lantana berries that he had taken.

Parajapyx isabellae (Grassi).—Mr. R. {L Van Zwaluwenburg

reported that Dr. Silvestri had recently identified our common low

land soil japygid as Parajapyx isabellae (Grassi). This insect has

a very wide distribution, being known from Europe, Japan and

China. Silvestri figures it in "Bolletino del Laboratorio di Zoolo-

gia Generate e Agraria" of Portici (Vol. 22, p. 79, 1928) and says

of it (translated) : ". . . distributed throughout the palearctic and

nearctic regions south of about the 42nd parallel of latitude." It

is the species discussed and figured in Dr. Williams' Handbook

(p. 350-351), and has been taken in cane soils on Oahu, Maui,

Kauai, and Hawaii. It is particularly abundant in the heavy alka

line soils of Kahuku and Waianae; more than half of all the speci

mens taken occur between 5 and 9 inches below the surface of the

ground.

Chalcolepidius erythrolonta Candeze.r—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg

reported seeing this species in flight on July 30 on the west side of

Kolekole Pass in the Waianae Mountains, about 500 feet below the

top of the pass. This elaterid has long been known from the

Koolau Range on Oahu, but has apparently not been recorded

before from the western part of the island.

383

Western Pacific Landmass.—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg stated

that Dr. R. Jeannel, in discussing on page 186 (Soc. Ent. de

France, Livre du Centenaire, Revision du Genre Limnastis, pp.

167-187, June, 1932), the distribution of the carabid genus Lim

nastis, makes the following statement: "Et surtout le Paralimnastis

zwaluwenbergi se trouve a Honolulu. II y constitute un tres inter-

essant relicte, faisant la preuve qua une epoque ancienne, des

communications continentales ont du s'etendre sur tout l'emplace-

ment du Pacifique occidental, depuis l'archipel Malais jusqu'aux

iles Hawaii." This conclusion as to extensive land connections in

the western Pacific, while in accord with the opinions of malacol-

ogists and of some other biologists, is not necessarily the true

explanation of the presence here of the minute soil beetle under

discussion. Enough shipments of soil have at various times been

brought into the Hawaiian Islands (with plants by the ancient

Polynesian immigrants and by immigrants from southern China

within the past century, and in even larger amounts as ballast in

ships) to explain the considerable number of animal species in our

lowland soils common to other parts of the world, including Ma

laysia, the Orient, the Americas and Europe.*

Longevity of Coptotermes fonnosanus Shiraki.—Mr. Van

Zwaluwenburg reported as follows: In March, 1930, a piece

of "northwest" pine infested by this species, in termite tests

made at McKinley High School, was obtained from Mr. Q. Chock

of the Territorial Board of Agriculture and Forestry. Placed in a

large glass jar with moist earth, the colony was watered periodi

cally as seemed necessary, and kept under observation until April,

1933. At no time were any castes other than workers or soldiers

observed. On May 10, 1932, ten winged forms were added from

an outdoor colony. A large larva of Chalcolepidius erythroloma

was introduced in May, 1931, but failed to develop into an adult

beetle; in fact it disappeared entirely. Toward the end of the ex

periment the most noticeable feature of the nest was the large

numbers of Cyphoderus assimilis which, with a species of Poly-

xenus, was the dominant species to survive the termites. Some time

between April 8 and April 22, 1933, the termite colony died out,

* This is the larger of the two carabids found in cane field soil, mentioned inWilliams' Insects and Other Invertebrates of Hawaiian Sugar Cane Fields, p. 352.

The smaller species mentioned there is Typhlonesiotes atomus Jeannel (noted in Proc.Haw. Dnt. Soc, VIII, 1, p. 24 as Macranillus atomus Jeannel).

384

probably due to exhaustion of the food supply; examination failed

to reveal any nymphs or sexed adults present in the debris. Al

though the possibility of a queen or a neoteinic form having been

present at some stage of the colony's existence is not precluded

(only a sperficial examination of the colony having been made at

the start of the experiment), the absence of young or of sexed

forms in the jar, either winged adults or nymphs, suggests the

possibility that the individuals originally introduced survived for

slightly over three years. Additional and more carefully checked

observations would be of interest.

Polycaon stouti Lee.—Mr. Pemberton referred to a specimen

of this bostrichid which emerged during August, 1933 from a

dresser imported from California by a Maui resident in Novem

ber, 1929. This is the second individual of this species to be col

lected from this dresser by Mr. F. W. Broadbent at Puunene. The

previous specimen was obtained in August, 1931. (See Proc. Haw.

Ent. Soc, Vol. VIII, No. 1, p. 23.)

Mr. J. S. Rosa in speaking of his recent trip to the mainland

of U.S.A. commented on the abundance of grasshoppers in North

Dakota, in particular, these insects were thickly strewn along the

highways and plugged up automobile radiators.

Mr. F. C. Hadden likewise gave an interesting account of his

trip to the mainland and made reference to the "flea circus," etc.,

at the Chicago Fair.

Mr. Ehrhorn spoke of the new termite book from California.

Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg spoke briefly of "Hawaiian Nature

Notes" by E. H. Bryan, Jr., as an excellent book and full of infor

mation.

Mr. Fullaway mentioned that recently a specimen of Dendro-

bates tinctorius, a frog recently introduced from Panama, had

been found at Waiahole, Oahu.

Mr. Pemberton remarked on a recent epidemic of several

weeks' duration of the cat flea at Waikiki.

OCTOBER 5, 1933

The 333rd regular meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological

Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., October 5,

1933, at 2:30 p.m.

385

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Ehrhorn, Fullaway, Hadden,

Krauss, Mason, McBride, Pemberton, Riley, Rosa, Swezey, Van

Zwaluwenburg, Wilder, and Williams.


of the previous meeting were read and approved as corrected.

Under new business, Mr. N. Krauss, brought up the idea of a

Territorial Butterfly, just as the State of California has adopted

the Dog Head Butterfly for its Entomological Seal. The Kame-

hameha butterfly and the Koa bug, as typical Hawaiian insects,

had been considered. It was finally agreed to leave the matter for

the annual meeting.


Mr. N. Krauss stated that on a trip to Kamokunui Valley,

Waianae Mts., on October 1, 1933, he noted that the guava and

Java plum foliage was silvered and the guava fruit cracked,

evidently due to the ravages of a dark-colored thrips that had been

enormously abundant there.

Insects from fruit of Aledryon.—Mr. Swezey reported the

following list of insects having bred from fruits of Alectryon

macrococcus. About a dozen fallen fruits were collected in Ku-

kuiala Valley, Waianae Mts., September 16, 1933. They were

found to be infested by caterpillars and other insects.

From these the following insects were obtained:—

1.

4.

1.

70.

2.

11.

1.

5.

About doz.

Acntus basalts Lee.

" subbasalis Scott.

Nesencyrtus kaalae Ashm.

Argyroploce illepida (Butl.)

Opogona aurisquamosa (Butl.)

Cryptamorpha desjardinsi (Guer.)

Drosophila crucigera Grims.

Antherigona excisa (Thomson)

Phorids

Numerous Neosciara inolokaiensis (Grims.)

4. Psychoda inornata Grims.

11 species

386

Bndynomena pradieri (Fairm.).—Mr. Swezey reported that

the carabid beetle exhibited by himself at the previous meeting as

a new immigrant, collected on a screen door at his house, July 9,

had been determined by Dr. E. C. Van Dyke as this species. It

is not new to Hawaii, however, as Dr. Van Dyke pointed out that

Blackburn had described it in 1877 as Saronychium inconspicuum,

which has later been synonomized with £.. pradieri which was

described from Tahiti in 1849 by Fairmaire. An unidentified speci

men in the Bishop Museum collected by Perkins at Wailuku,

Maui, in 1894, turns out to be this same species. The only previous

records are the two specimens collected by Blackburn: one in

Honolulu and one on Konahuanui. It is strange that a beetle of

this kind is not more often collected. -

Pleurotropis wilderi (How.).—Mr. Swezey reported having

recently received this determination by Mr. Gahan of the small

parasite of Arachnoleter swezeyi Cush. and Tromatobia ntfopectus

(Cress.). This is "No. 104, Entedonine sp." of Timberlake (Proc.

Haw. Ent. Soc, V, No. 3, p. 441, 1924). This hyperparasite is

now known on Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii. The latest collecting

was by Mr. Pemberton, July 28, 1933, at Mountain View, Hawaii,

124 of the parasite having issued from 9 cocoons of Tromatobia

which were in an egg-cocoon of Argiope avara which was brought

in. This egg-cocoon contained 21 Tromatobia cocoons the largest

number so far found in one spider egg-cocoon. The Tromatabias

had already issued from 12 of their cocoons, the others later yield

ing Pleurotropis.

Discomyza maculipennis Wied.—Mr. Swezey exhibited a series

of 9 specimens of this ephydrid fly that were received September

26, 1933, from Mr. Kilmer O. Moe of Kahili, who had bred them

from dead sea shells. The shells had been exposed for ants to

clean out the dead remains. Later, when confined in an exhibition

case, the flies issued. It is a species somewhat resembling the

ortalid Notogramma stigma (Fab.) which breeds in decaying fruit,

rotten sugar cane, etc., here. The only previous record of this

ephydrid is in Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc, VI, p. 236, 1926, It was

similarly bred from improperly cleaned sea shells.

Nesodryas (Nesothoe) maculata Muir.—A specimen of this

delphacid was exhibited by Mr. Swezey who had collected it on

387

Maba hillebrandii in Kukuiala Valley, September 16, 1933. This

insect was collected originally on Hawaii in 1915. Apparently this

is the first record of its occurrence on Oahu.

Erebus odora (Linn.).—Mr. Swezey reported that a female

of this moth, kept confined in a pasteboard box, laid a large num

ber of eggs before death. No count was made of the eggs, but

the caterpillars which hatched, and died in the box, were counted

with a total of 386.

Sybra alternans Wied.—Mr. Swezey recorded the occurrence

of this cerambycid on Molokai, he having collected a specimen at

Kawela on that island, September 30, 1930. Apparently it had not

been previously recorded on Molokai, nor has it been taken on

any of the other islands except Oahu, where it has been known

since 1918, and is now very common, its larvae feeding in dead

stems of most kinds of trees and shrubs of the lowlands.

Trichogramma minutuni Riley.—Mr. Swezey exhibited a vial

with 43 of this egg-parasite which had issued from two eggs of

the Kamehameha butterfly, Vanessa tammeamea Esch. Four eggs

had been found, three of them on the under side of a leaf of

Urera sandwicensis in Kamokunui Valley, Waianae Mts., October

1, 1933; the other egg on a leaf of Pipturus albidus which is the

most usual host of the Kamehameha butterfly. From two of these

eggs, parasites had already issued. The parasites issued from the

two others on October 3.

Ceratitis capitata Wied.—Dr. Gerrit Wilder said that only 1%

of his five varieties of mangoes had been stung by the fruit fly.

Argyroploce illepida (Butl.)—Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn spoke of

the caterpillar of Argyroploce illepida on macadamia nuts—about

6% found this month. It only damages the outside shell, so far.

None found in the nut meat. More abundant this year than last

year.

Coleotichus blackburniae White.—Dr. F. X. Williams stated

that on September 24, 1933, he found the moult skins of Cole

otichus blackburniae (Scutellarinae), our largest native bug, very

abundantly on Tantalus, along the Sugarloaf trail that runs

388

through the planted Acacia koa forest to Hering Valley. These

cast skins, which appeared to be those mainly of the last nymphal

stage, could be gathered in hundreds along the 1000-foot stretch

of the trail through the koa forest. A few young and adult bugs

were to be found on the under cover of Commelina plants. This

bug is attached chiefly to koa.

He also commented upon the abundance of Elimaea punctifera

(Walker) the large green long-horned grasshopper, along a stretch

of above-mentioned koa forest trail. These insects were resting

upon tall Commelina. Twenty-one adults were easily caught with

the hand in a short time. Immature specimens appeared less com

mon. Twenty of the mature ones were fed in succession to two

large Bufo marinas.

Anax strenuus Hagen.—Egg slits in submerged Commelina

stems, and the young of this dragonfly that had issued therefrom,

were exhibited by Dr. Williams.

Diorymerellus laevinargo Champ.—Mr. D. T. Fullaway spoke

of this orchid weevil as being present in orchids imported from

eastern United States.

Immigrant carabid.—Mr. C. E. Pemberton mentioned a black

carabid beetle given him by Dr. H. L,. Lyon, and resembling

Pterostichus californicus which had been found in the tight green

house at the Vineyard street nursery. It was probably a stowaway

from California.

NOVEMBER 2, 1933

• The 334th monthly meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological

Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., November

2, 1933, at 2 :30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Ehrhorn, Hadden, Illing-

worth, Keck, Krauss, Marlowe, Pemberton, Rosa, Smith, Solander,

Swezey, Van Zwaluwenburg, and Williams.



of the previous meeting were read and approved as corrected.

389

N0T3S AND EXHIBITIONS

Lema nigrovittata Guerin.—Mr. N. Krauss exhibited several

specimens of a chrysomelid beetle of the genus Lema which a local

University student had secured. More data are to be obtained onthis insect.

Identification of Toad From Kauai.—Mr. C. E. Pemberton

stated that specimens of a toad known to occur in some of the

elevated, swampy portions of the island of Kauai, have been

obtained from Mr. Albert Duvel of the Experiment Station,

H.S.P.A. One of these was sent to Dr. Joseph R. Slevin, Curator

of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, who found it to

be the Oriental toad Bufo bufo asiaticus Steindachner. He states

that it is a common Oriental species and probably only a color

variation of one known in Japan as Bufo vulgaris japonicus

Schlegel. Bufo bufo asiaticus, according to Okada, occurs in eastern Mongolia, Manchuria, Amurland, northeastern China from

Peking and Chefu to Shanghai and has been spread throughoutKorea. We can find no definite record of when this toad wasintroduced to Hawaii or by whom.

Nephus pictus Gorh.—Mr. Swezey reported having collected

one of this ladybeetle by sweeping on an Erythrina monosperma

tree in Kamokunui Valley, Waianae Mrs., October 1, 1933, at a

place a mile or more above the upper cane.fields of WaialuaAgricultural Company.

Pachycrepoideus dubius Ashm.—Mr. Swezey reported having

bred this parasite abundantly from puparia of Drosophila melano-gaster Sturt. The drosophilid larvae had fed on pulp of fallen

mangoes, October 10-20, 1933. It was the first time he had reared

this parasite in any quantity.

New Cecidomyid.—Mr. Swezey exhibited specimens of a ceci-

domyid, as yet undetermined, and apparently not previously re

corded in Hawaii. The flies had issued abundantly in a jar con

taining mango seeds on which there had been more or less pulp,

fermenting and finally drying. The seeds were being held for

observing the time of issuance of the mango weevil. Apparently

the larvae of the cecidomyids had fed in the pulp.

390

Athesapeuta cyperi Marshall.—Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg re

ported finding the grub of this introduced weevil in nutgrass on

October 13 in a field of the former Makee Sugar Company, just

north of the Wailua River. This is the first record of this insect

on Kauai.

Vespa occidentalis Cresson.—This ground-nesting yellow jacket

was found fairly common last month in the mauka cane fields at

Lihue and Makaweli on Kauai, by Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg. At

the latter place, laborers were already complaining of its vicious

stinging. Apparently first taken in the highlands of Kauai by

J. A. Kusche in 1919, the first published record of its occurrence

in the Islands was the capture of a specimen in the Alakai vSwamp,

Kauai, by Messrs. Agee and Rock in 1920. Dr. Williams in 1930

saw several of these wasps in cane fields at Kilauea Plantation.

If the species becomes generally established in the cultivated areas

of the lowlands, as now seems probable on Kauai, it is apt to be

come a serious nuisance to cane field workers.

Discomysa macalipennis Wiedemann.—Mr. Bryan reported

that the species of fly reported by Mr. Swezey at the last meeting

as being bred by K. O. Moe from dead shells, belongs to this

species of the family Ephydridae. The record of its having been

bred from improperly cleaned sea shells in April, 1925, at Bishop

Museum, is given in the Proceedings, Vol. 6, page 236. In addi

tion, a large series of specimens collected on Lisiansky Island, to

the northwest of Kauai, by S. C. Ball, in May, 1923, on the

Tanager Expedition, also belongs to this species. M. Bezzi

(Diptera Brachycera and Athericera of the Fiji Islands, 1928,

p. 154) states that this species is widely spread throughout the

whole Oriental Region, and is common in the Philippines as well

as in the Mascarene Islands. It was taken in Fiji.

Hister bhnuculatus L.—Dr. Williams mentioned that he had

taken a specimen of this beetle from filter press mud in a field

of the Hilo Sugar Company, Hawaii, in July, 1932, and a second

specimen about stable manure at Ookala, Hawaii, in the latter part

of October, 1933.

391

DECEMBER 7, 1933


Society was held at the Experiment Station, H.S.P.A., December

7, 1933, at 2:30 p.m.

Members present: Messrs. Bryan, Carter, Ehrhorn, Fullaway,

Hadden, Illingworth, Ito, Krauss, Mason, McBride, Pemberton,

Rosa, Solander, Miss Suehiro, Messrs. Swezey, Van Zwaluwen-

burg, Weinrich, and Williams.


President Pemberton called the meeting to order.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

The Secretary read the financial statement of the Society for

the year commencing December 1, 1932, and terminating December

6, 1933. The statement was approved subject to audit. The presi

dent appointed Mr. Ehrhorn as auditor.

Election of officers for the ensuing year, 1934, as follows:

President—Mr. O. C. McBride

Vice-President—Dr. Walter Carter

Secretary-Treasurer—Mr. R. H. Van Zwaluwenburg

Additional members of the Executive Committee—Messrs.

O. H. Swezey and C. E. Pemberton.

Mr. Krauss then presented a resolution to the Society as fol

lows :

Whereas, many states of the American Union have adopted

State Birds, State Flowers and State Trees, to promote pride in

state and an interest in nature, and

Whereas, the entomologists of at least one state have adopted

a State Butterfly or State Insect, and

Whereas, many butterflies and other insects are fully as at

tractive and interesting as flowers and birds, and

Whereas, the beautiful butterfly known as the Kamehameha

(Vanessa tammeamea Esch.) is the only conspicuous native butter

fly in Hawaii and is widely distributed in these islands and is

named for a great Hawaiian king, therefore

Be it resolved, that the Hawaiian Entomological Society hereby

adopt the said Kamehameha Butterfly as the Territorial Butterfly

or Insect, and

392

Be it further resolved, that an appropriate seal be made which

shall depict this species, and that this shall be known as the

Entomological Seal of the Territory of Hawaii, and

Be it further resolved, that action be taken to have the Kame-

hameha Butterfly officially adopted by the Legislature of the Terri

tory of Hawaii as the Territorial Butterfly.

It was moved and seconded that the motion be adopted.

Carried.

President Pemberton then gave his Annual Address, entitled:

"Some Future Work for the Entomologist in Hawaii." The ad

dress was very much to the point and it is hoped that some of its

suggestions will be followed up.

Dr. Carter spoke on behalf of Dr. R. N. Chapman for new

membership into the American Association of Economic Ento

mology and gave in a communication to that effect.

Also on behalf of Dr. Chapman, Dr. Carter read a communi

cation respecting the extension of the loan of the entomological

exhibit at the Century of Progress Exposition at Chicago. The

matter was referred to the Chicago Fair Committee.

Dr. Carter (referring to the presidential address) suggested

that it would be of value to the entomologists of the Islands if

the Entomological Society here approve or take other action in

regard to advising small farmers and garden citizens in com

batting insect pests and that it look into the question of insecticides,

particularly with reference to labelling of the products, and their

effectiveness.

papers

Mr. Swezey presented a paper entitled: "Harroweria gloriosa

Hebard, a Katydid stowaway from Panama (Orthoptera; 'Tet-

tigoniidae).

"New Hawaiian Lepidoptera," by O. H. Swezey.

Mr. Bryan presented a paper by title: "A Review of the Ha

waiian Diptera, with descriptions of new species."

Dr. Illingworth presented: "Notes on tKe habits and life his

tory of Sciara molokaiensis Grimshaw, a serious pest of the

roots of plants in Hawaii (Mycetophilidae)."

"Life history and habits of Apelma brevis Johannsen

(Chironomidae)."

393

Dr. Carter presented a paper entitled: "Notes on two pests

of Pineapple not known in Hawaii."


Orthoea nigriceps (Dallas).—Mr. N. Krauss reported this

myodochid bug flying in thousands about street lights in the

grounds of the Mid-Pacific Institute and the University of Hawaii,

Manoa, November 8, 1933.

Tenodera angustipennis Sauss.—Mr. N. Krauss reported a

specimen (adult) from near the Libby Pineapple Cannery at

Kuiaha, near Haiku, Maui, collected January 5, 1932.

Molokai insect notes.—Dr. Williams exhibited a few specimens

recently taken by him in the mountains behind the Puuhoku Ranch,

East Molokai. The exhibit included the large green dolichopodid

fly Liancalus metallicus Grims. occurring chiefly on boulders in the

Moalua Stream; an Agrion (damselfly) reared from a nymph

from the base of an Astelia lily plant; and an adult specimen of

the pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii Cano) on Chili pepper in

the Papio Gulch, 700 feet elevation. This appears to be the first

record for this weevil in the Hawaiian Islands outside the island

of Oahu.

Neotrichus latiusculus (Fairm.).—This colydiid beetle was ex

hibited by Mr. Swezey, who had recently come across two

specimens among some unidentified material. One specimen was

collected by him at Hilo, Hawaii, July 25, 1921, and the other in

Puna, Hawaii, May 10, 1926. This species has not hitherto been

recorded in the Hawaiian Islands. Identification was made by

comparison with specimens from Samoa at the Bishop Museum.

The species was described from Fiji in 1881.

Acythopeus sp.—Mr. Swezey exhibited specimens of an orchid

weevil different from the usual Acythopeus aterrlmus (Water-

house) which has been known in orchid houses in Honolulu for

quite a number of years, being first found in 1910. The present

specimens are smaller in size than aterrimus, uniformly black in

color, and resemble the latter to such extent that they were mis

taken for it. Recent careful comparisons, however, bring out

394

several minute structural differences. These specimens were from

Mr. Frank C. Atherton's orchid house, March 1, 1928.

Lasioderma serricorne (Fab.).—Mr. Swezey exhibited a small

jar of a table salt mixture in which were numerous larvae, pupae

and adults of the cigarette beetle. It is not known what is the

ingredient on which the larvae feed.

Drosophila immigrans Sturt.—Mr. Swezey exhibited a bottle

of drosophilid flies which were obtained from one flower of

Aristolochia gigas that Mr. E. L. Caum had brought in from the

Arboretum in Manoa Valley, November 24, 1933. This flower is

so constructed as to retain the flies which enter its throat. It is

provided with a foul odor to attract the flies; 2808 flies were

counted, and Mr. Caum estimated that about *4 had escaped.

They were nearly all of the one species, immigrans; but there was

one specimen of a spotted winged native species of Drosophila

apparently undescribed.

Pycnoderes 4-niaculatas Guerin.—Reported by Dr. Illingworth

as a serious pest of pole beans in the Waialae district. He first

discovered this bug in the Islands feeding on purslane, December

11, 1929 (Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc. VII, 466, April, 1931). It is a

pest from California, where it is injurious to cucurbitaceous plants.

Essig also reports it as a pest of beans.

Heterodoxus longitarsus Piaget.—Mr. Pemberton reported that

on March 15, 1933, C. W. Carpenter collected a number of lice

from a dog at Waikiki, Honolulu. Specimens of these were

mounted and tentatively identified as the Kangaroo louse, Hetero

doxus longitarsus Piaget, by Dr. J. F. Illingworth. Specimens

were sent to Dr. G. F. Ferris, Stanford University, who in a letter

dated October 27, 1933, has verified the identification. This is the

first record of this species occurring in Hawaii.

Scelio pembertoni Tim.—Mr. Pemberton reported that three

adults of this imported parasite of the grasshopper Oxya chinensis

(Thun.) were taken at Wailuku Sugar Company, Maui, at two

points where the parasite was liberated two years previously. This

is the first record of the establishment of this parasite on the island

of Maui.

HawaiianEntomologicalSociety · 2010-05-26 · PROCEEDINGS OF THE HawaiianEntomologicalSociety Vol. VIII, No. 3 Forthe: Ykar 1933 July, 1934 JANUARY5, 1933 The 324th regular meeting

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